5.

"Here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come." HEB. 13:14.

One sweetly solemn thought
Comes to me o'er and o'er:

I'm nearer home to-day

Than I've ever been before.

Nearer my Father's house,

Where many mansions be;
Nearer the great white throne,
Nearer the jasper sea;

Nearer the bound of life,

Where we lay our burdens down;

Nearer leaving my cross,

Nearer wearing my crown.

But lying darkly between,

Winding down through the night,
Is that dim and unknown stream
Which leads at last to light.

Father! perfect my trust,
Strengthen my feeble faith;

Let me feel as if I trod

The shore of the River Death

For even now my feet

May stand upon its brink-
I may be nearer home,

Nearer now than I think.

CAREY.

6.

"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path." PSALM 142:3.

My God, whose gracious pity I may claim, Calling Thee Father-sweet, endearing

name

The sufferings of this weak and weary frame All, all are known to Thee.

From human eye 'tis better to conceal
Much that I suffer, much I hourly feel;
But oh! this thought does tranquillize and
heal-

All, all is known to Thee.

Each secret conflict with indwelling sin,
Each sickening fear I ne'er the prize shall win;
Each pang from irritation, turmoil, din,

All, all, is known to Thee.

When in the morning unrefreshed I wake,
Or in the night but little sleep I take,
This brief appeal, submissively I make-
All, all is known to Thee.

Nay, all by Thee is ordered, chosen, planned; Each drop that fills my daily cup, Thy hand Prescribes for ills none else can understand. All, all is known to Thee.

The effectual means to hate what I deplore, In me Thy longed-for likeness to restore; Self to dethrone, never to govern moreAll, all are known to Thee.

And this continual feebleness-this state Which seemeth to unnerve and incapacitate Will work the cure my hopes and fears await. That can I leave to Thee.

And welcome, precious, can Thy Spirit make My little drop of suffering for Thy sake; Father, the cup I drink, the path I takeAll, all is to known to Theo.

7.

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." PSALM 91: 1.

Call Jehovah thy salvation,

Rest beneath the Almighty's shade,
In His secret habitation

Dwell, nor ever be dismayed;
There no tumult can alarm thee,
Thou shalt dread no hidden snare;
Guile nor violence can harm thee,
In eternal safeguard there.

From the sword, at noon-day wasting,
From the noisome pestilence,
In the depth of midnight blasting,
God shall be thy sure defense.
Fear not thou the deadly quiver,
When a thousand feel the blow;

Mercy shall thy soul deliver,

Though ten thousand be laid low.

Thee, though winds and waves be swelling, God, thine hope, shall bear through all, Plague shall not come near thy dwelling, Thee no evil shall befall:

He shall charge His angel-legions
Watch and ward o'er thee to keep,
Though thou walk in hostile regions,
Though in desert wilds thou sleep.

Since, with pure and true affection,
Thou on God hast set thy love,
With the wings of His protection

He will shield thee from above:
Thou shalt call on Him in trouble,
He will hearken, He will save;
Here for grief reward thee double,
Crown with life beyond the grave.

MONTGOMERY.

8.

"For they that say such things, declare plainly that they seek a country." HEBREWS 11: 14.

I am weary of straying-oh! fain would I

rest,

In the far distant land of the pure and the blest;

Where sin can no longer her blandishments spread,

And tears and temptation forever have fled.